Strategically located in Jeddah, Hempel’s first waterborne factory in the Middle East will help meet the growing demand for Hempel decorative coatings in the region.

The new plant, located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will manufacture paint for the decorative coatings segment and will supply the entire Middle Eastern market.

Besides being Hempel’s second factory in Saudi Arabia, it is also Hempel’s first 100 percent water-based production facility in the Middle East, as well as its largest decorative factory in the region.

The 7,500 square meter facility is a culmination of the company’s efforts to further strengthen its leadership in the Saudi market.

According to Pierre-Yves Jullien, Hempel Group president and CEO, the factory was built in Jeddah due to its strategic proximity to global sea lines and to the sea port located in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). “We are confident that the new plant will help us meet the growing demand for our coatings and further reinforce our leadership in the region.”

The plant will feature the latest in coating production equipment technology, including powder silos, automatic filling, automatic palletizing and automatic transfer of pallets to the finished goods warehouse.

With a production volume of 32 million liters per year and an investment value of more than €19 million, the plant will secure a large number of job opportunities for the region.

Hempel CEO Pierre-Yves Jullien, Hempel chairman Richard Sand, the Danish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ole Frijs-Madsen as well as government officials, customers, suppliers, staff and media attended the opening of the plant. The launch also coincided with Hempel’s 40th anniversary in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.